Mechanic&#39;s platform for airplanes



Nbv. 2, 1937.

I. l.: SIKORSKY MECHANICS PLATFORM FOR AIRPLANES 1 Filed March 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

@121 5x019 y M ATTORNEY uovyz, 193 SIKORSKY 2,097,991

MECHANICS PLATFORM FOR AIRPLANES Filed March 17, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jur 5x17119192 A TTORNEY Nov. 2, 1937. 1

f 1. SIKORSKY HEQHANICS PLATE 011M FOR AIRPLANES Fi1e d March 17, 1936 .3 sh ets-sheet s INVENTOR! 19ml EJKUI'SK BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Mec anic's PLATFORM ron mum-1s Application March 17, 1936, Serial No. 89,355

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanics platforms and has particular reference to the application of a mechanics platform to an airplane or other fluid supported body.

An object of the invention resides in the provision in an airplane of a movable portion which may be moved to one position to provide a suitable support for a person engaged in duties necessary or incidental to the operation of the airplane, or vehicle, and may at other times be moved to a position in which it forms a, continuation of the stream lined or airfoil surface of the vehicle.

A further object resides in the provision of means by which thetread surface of the platform may be extended, if desired, to increase the area thereof and of means for supporting and maintaining the movable section in either of its operative positions.

Other objects and advantages will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter or will become apparent as the description proceeds.-

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a suitable mechanical embodiment of the idea of the invention and one somewhat modified form thereof. The drawings, however, are for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention, the scope of which is to be measured entirely by the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an airplane, in this instance a multi-motoredflying boat, showing the location of the mechanics platforms in the structure of the airplane.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the flyin boat illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the movable,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the wing showing a mechanic's platform, which ordinarily forms a portion of the leading edge of the wing, in extended position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the 5 mechanics platform in retracted position in which it forms a continuation of the leading edge of the wing.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of the device of the invention and is a sectional view of the go forward portion of the airplane hull with a movable section of the hull extended into a horizontal position to form a platform for the support of a person engaged in duties incidental to the operation of the airplane. a Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the platform illustrated in Fig. 5, portions of the hull and platform supporting structure being broken away to better illustrate the construction of the platform.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral ill generally indicates the hull or fuse- 5 lage of a flying boat or airplane having a wing l2 upon which are mounted a plurality of engines ll. Obviously the number of engines whether one or more, or the mounting of the engines whether directly upon the wing or in some location adja- 10 cent to the wing I! or hull i0 is in no way a limitationupon the scope of this invention, the particular flying boat illustrated being shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention only.

In the construction illustrated, the engines are mounted upon themounting rings it, particularly illustrated in Fig. 3, which mounting rings are rigidly connected to the wing structure by means of suitable braces l8 so that the engines are positioned immediately in front of the leading edge of the wing. Preferably each engine is enclosed 20 in a stream lined cowl 20 and the engine support ing structure is enclosed in a suitable stream lined nacelle 22. An aeronautical propeller 24 is positioned in front of each engine and is rotatable by the engine to provide the propulsive force necessary for the operation of the airplane. The leading edge of the wing I2 is provided upon each side of each of the engine nacelles 22 with a movable portion 26 particularly illustrated in Fig. 1- and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the case of an airplane 'such as is illustrated in Fig. 1, having four engines mounted on, or adjacent to, the wing, there are provided eight platforms, any one, or any number of which may be extended to provide a platform for the support of a person engaged in duties in connection with an engine or the engines.

It is, of course, not the intention that these platforms will be used while the airplane or flying 4 boat is in flight, but are for use during maintenance and repair work at the airplane terminal and for emergency work when the airplane has been grounded and particularly in the case of a flying boat, as illustrated, when the boat has been forced down upon the surface of the water. In

the use of the platforms, preferably the two platforms upon the opposite sides of the engine requiring attention are extended at the same time, and, if desired, a net or hammock may be suspended between the two platforms beneath the engine to catch any parts or tools that may be dropped and prevent their falling into the water and being lost.

In Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a speciflc structure for a suitable mechanic's platform for members 3!! and 32 respectively which may be formed of extruded aluminum or of steel and preferably have a substantially T section comprising a flange underlying the surface of the wing and a web portion extending from the flange vertically into the interior of the wing. The leading edge of the wing is attached to this flange member, preferably by removable means such as screws so that the entire leading edge may be removed if desired to provide access for inspection and maintenance operations upon the structure within the wing. The sections 26 of this leading edge which constitute the mechanics platform are hinged along their lower edges by means of suitable hinge joints M, either to supporting structures 36 attached to the lower wing spar member 32 or directly to the flange portion of the member 32 as may be desired. A flap member 38 is hinged to the upper edge of each of the movable sections by means of a similar hinge joint db and is provided with a plurality of securing members 32 in the form of bayonet slot screws by means of which the edge of the flap remote from the hinge db may be detachably connected to the flange portion of the upper spar member 30 as particularly illustrated in Fig. 4. Each movable portion of the leading edge is provided with a suitable reinforcing construction in the form of spaced parallel transverse ribs M and, if desired, may be additionally reinforced by means of spaced longitudinal mem-- bers 46. The rib members M extend from one edge to the other of the movable section and are curved to follow the airfoil section of the leading edge of the wing. The hinges 34 and M are rigidly connected to the opposite ends of these reinforcing rib members so that the movable section when extended as illustrated in Fig. 3 will constitute a solid and rigid support.

The movable section is supported in the extended position illustrated in Fig. 3 by means ofa pair of link members t8 and so pivotally connected to the upper edge of the movable section and to the upper spar member an by means of pivotal braces 52 and 54 respectively. If desired, the joint 58 may be supported upon a bracket member 56 extending outwardly and downwardly from the flange portion of the upper spar member 30. The two link members 58 and 50 are connected together by means of an elbow joint which comprises the pivotal joint 58 and a stop pin 60 carried by an extension on one of the link members, in the construction illustrated, the stop pin being carried below the link member 88 by an extension upon the lower end of the upper link member 50. When the movable section is moved to its retracted position illustrated in Fig. 4, the link members 48 and 50 fold into the space within the wing immediately in front of the spar 28.

Each movable section 26 is provided between i the ends of the reinforcing ribs 44 with a tread member 62 which constitutes a platform upon theupper surface of the movable section when the section is in the extended position illustrated in Fig. 3. For the sake of lightness this tread member is preferably formed of a piece of corrugated sheet metal, or if desired, may be formed of a plurality of bars made up of sheet metal bent to a U section. This member is permanently secured along its opposite edges to the opposite ends of the reinforcing ribs 66 by suitable means such as the rivets 6 3.

In cases where the leading edge of the wing does not have a s' filcient thickness to provide a platform of comfortable size, it has been found desirable to increase the size of the platform by connecting to the movable section or to the tread member 62, a tread extension such as is indicated at 66 in Fig. 3. The tread extension 66 is preferably connected by means of a suitable hinge td-to the outer edge of the tread member 62 so that it may be swung from a position in which it overlies the tread member 62 as illustrated in Fig. 4 to the extended position illustrated in Fig.3. Preferably the hinge connection G8 is reinforced by suitable means such as the bracket it rigidly secured to the outer ends of the reinforcing ribs M and the outer edge of the tread member 62. The tread extension 56 is also preferably formed of corrugated sheet metal or a plurality of spaced parallel bars of sheet metal formed to a U section and is provided along its outer edge with a reinforcing channel member l2 upon which are permanently secured a pair of brackets M which carry connections it for the lower ends of a pair of cables 78 which extend from the outer edge of the tread extension to the upper mrtion of the links 56 as illustrated in Fig. 3 or to the upper spar member 30, it being understood, of course, that there is one set of links '38 and 59, and one cable 78 at each end of each of the movable sections 26.

When the aircraft is in flight the movable section is secured in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in which it forms a smooth continuation of the airfoil contour of the leading edge of the wing. In this position the supporting links and cables, the tread member, and tread extension are all folded within the interior of the wing and there is no structure projecting outside of the wing which would in any way interrupt the smooth contour of the wing leading edge. The movable section is maintained in the retracted position illustrated in Fig. 4 by means of the bayonet slot screws M which extend through the'forward portion of the flange of the upper spar member 3!! and engage locking pins carried upon the undersurface of the flange. In this retracted position the movable section is solidly attached to the fixed structure of the wing and constitutes an operative portion of the wing leading edge.

When it is found necessary or desirable to make adjustments or repairs to an engine, the movable sections adjacent to the engine or respective engines are moved to the extended position illustrated in Fig. 3 by releasing the screws 32 and swinging the sections downwardly about the hinged connections 3a to a substantially horizontal position. With the movable sections located in the horizontal position, the tread extension 66 may be swung outwardly to provide platforms of adequate and comfortable size adjacent to the opposite sides of the respective engine and propeller so that mechanics may work on the engines and propellers while supported upon the platforms adjacent thereto.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, some portion of an airplane such as the hull of a large flying boat is provided with a movable portion or section 82 which is pivotally connected along its lower edge to the fixed structure of the hull by means of a suitable hinge 84. When the movable section 82 is in its inoperative or retracted position it constitutes a continuation of the stream lined surface of the hull, but when in its extended position as illustrated in Figs. ,5 and 6 it provides a substantially horizontal platform outside of the hull and its removal from its retracted position provides, in the hull, a. suitable aperture through which a person may proceed to a position upon the platform. I The platform is supported in its substantially horizontal extended position by means of a pair of elbow links 88 extending from the opposite outer corners of the movable portion to the fixed structure of the hull within the upper opposite corners of the aperture. The platform is also provided with a suitable guard rail 88 having pivotally jointed side members 90 and vertical members 92 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the outer opposite corners of the platform, as indicated at 94, so that the guard rail may be folded downwardly to a position close to the tread surface 98 of the movable portion when such movable portion is in its retracted position. The tread surface 88 constitutes a smooth and substantially level surface above the curved outer surface of the movable section and between thetread surface and the outer surface the movable section is provided with suitable reinforcement such as the rib members 98. When the movable portion 82 is in its retracted position it forms a smooth continuation of the-stream lined outer surfaceof the hull in the same'manner as the movable wing section when in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, and when the movable portion 82 is in its extended position as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, it constitutes a firm and convenient platform for the support of a person engaged in duties necessary to, or incident to the operation of the aircraft, such duties including, for instance, vthe fending of the hull of a flying boataway from piers and other obstructions and the handling of cables incident to bringing the boat up to the pier or operation of an anchor. The platform may also obviously be used as a hatch to provide access to, the exterior of the airplane.

While there has been illustrated and described a specific constructional form of the idea of the invention, and one somewhat modified form thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction so illustrated and described, but that such changes in the size, shape, and arrangement ofparts may be resorted toas come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having now described the invention so that others skilled in the art may clearly understand the same, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is as follows.

I claim:

1. In an aircraft having a wing and an engine supported adjacent to said wing, means providing a platform for the support of a person working on said engine, said means comprising, a movable section of the leading edge of said wing hinged along its lower side to the fixed portion of the wing, means for supporting said movable section in a position approximately ninety degrees fromits normal position in which it constitutes a continuation of the leading edge surface of said wing, and means forming a tread on the surface of said movable section which is uppermost when in said ninety degree position.

2. In an aircraft having a wing and an engine supported adjacent to said wing, means providing a platform for the support of a person convenient to said engine, said means comprising, a movable section in the leading edge of said wing hinged along its lower-edge to the lower portion of the adjacent wing spar, a pair of elbow links attached to the upper portion of said movable section and to the upper portion of said spar to support said movable section in a position in which the open side thereof normally facing said spar is substantially horizontal, said links being foldable into said wing when said movable section is closed, and means providing a tread surface over said open side of said section.

3. In an aircraft having a wing and an engine supported adjacent to said wing, means providing a platform for the support of a person convenient to said engine, said means comprising, a movable section in the leading edge of said wing hinged along its lower edge to the lower portion of the adjacent wing spar, a pair of elbow links attached to the upper portion of said movable section and to the upper portion of said spar to support said movable section in a position in which the open side thereof normally facing said spar is substantially horizontal, said links being foldable into said wing when said movable section is closed, means providing a tread surface over said open side of said section, and means attached to said tread means and movable outwardly to increase the tread surface area of said platform.

4. In an aircrafthavlng a wing and an engine supported adjacent to said wing, means providing a platform for the support of a person convenient to said engine, said means comprising, a movable section in the leading edge of said wing hinged along its lower edge to the lower portion of the adjacent wing spar, a pair of elbow links attached to the upper portion of said movable section and to the upper portion of said spar to support said movable section in a position in which the open side thereof normally facing said spar is substantially horizontal, said links being foldable into said wing when said-movable section is closed, means providing a tread surface over said open sideof said section, means pivotally attached to said tread surface at the outer edge thereof and swingable outwardly to provide an extension to the. area of said tread surface, and cables between the outer edge of said extension and the upper portion of said spar to support said extension.

5. In an aircraft having a wing provided with a spar adjacent to the leading edge thereof and an engine mounted adjacent to said wing and supported on said spar, means providing a mechanics platform adjacent to said engine, said means comprising, a movable section in the portion of said wing in front of said spar adjacent to said engine, a hinge connection between the lower edge of said movable section and the adjacent lower edge of said spar-so that said movable section can be swung from a position against said spar to a position in which its spar engaging surface is substantially horizontal, means for suppor ing said movable section with its spar en- 4- sponsor gaging surface in said substantially -horimte1 transverse platform portion normally received position, and means providing e piatform tread within the contour of said wing, and means for on said surface. supporting said tiltabie section in a. downwardly 6. In an aircraft having a wing and engine tilted position to present said platform in a, sub: 5 supported adjacent to said wine, a tiitable hinged stantiaily horizontal position for the support of a 5 section in the leading edge of said wing a'djeperson working on said engine. cent to said engine, said section formed with n IGOR I. SIKORSKY. 

